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History Synoptic Paper: Ocr: Russia
I was wondering if anyone was doing this module in the summer, or had done it previously? I'm looking for some tips, as I really need an A. I know all my stuff, or at least, a good enough amount, but now as always my problem is structuring the essays. My history teacher tells me I am too verbose and flowery, and it's clear that I'm an English student at heart. The thing is, I don't seem to be able to do simplicity with language, or none of it makes sense: I'm slightly bizarre. I've been making essay plans, trying essays, redoing essays, writing up paragraphs for certain themes and learning the key points; but none of it seems to be working to the extent whereby I can get an A in practice papers. So, any advice?
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Are you referring to the A2 module: Russia 1855-1956, if so you have to make sure you refer to the whole 100 years during your essay, for example if the essay is about peasants you have to make sure you are referring to their treatment under Tsardom and then under the Communists, highlighting key points such as Emancipation, Collectivisation etc etc
That's the one. At the minute my revision is taking the form of writing short paragraphs to cover a theme which, hopefully, I'll be able to adapt to various essays. Still, I'm not sure if it's the right way to be going. Here's an example:
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule. Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka, NKVD, and KGB of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. Censorship was also a feature throughout; especially during the time of Alexander III’s Reaction and during the Cold War in Stalin’s era when it was important not to let news from the West filter in. There were, of course, exceptions. During the early reign of Alexander II, the time of the Provisional Government and Khrushchev’s “Thaw,” repression was relaxed to a certain extent.
I'm just not really sure if it includes all the right things. I mean, I know I'm covering the entire period and comparing, but it doesn't get me As.
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule. Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka, NKVD, and KGB of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. Censorship was also a feature throughout; especially during the time of Alexander III’s Reaction and during the Cold War in Stalin’s era when it was important not to let news from the West filter in. There were, of course, exceptions. During the early reign of Alexander II, the time of the Provisional Government and Khrushchev’s “Thaw,” repression was relaxed to a certain extent.
I'm just not really sure if it includes all the right things. I mean, I know I'm covering the entire period and comparing, but it doesn't get me As.
Charlottie
That's the one. At the minute my revision is taking the form of writing short paragraphs to cover a theme which, hopefully, I'll be able to adapt to various essays. Still, I'm not sure if it's the right way to be going. Here's an example:
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule. Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka, NKVD, and KGB of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. Censorship was also a feature throughout; especially during the time of Alexander III’s Reaction and during the Cold War in Stalin’s era when it was important not to let news from the West filter in. There were, of course, exceptions. During the early reign of Alexander II, the time of the Provisional Government and Khrushchev’s “Thaw,” repression was relaxed to a certain extent.
I'm just not really sure if it includes all the right things. I mean, I know I'm covering the entire period and comparing, but it doesn't get me As.
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule. Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka, NKVD, and KGB of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. Censorship was also a feature throughout; especially during the time of Alexander III’s Reaction and during the Cold War in Stalin’s era when it was important not to let news from the West filter in. There were, of course, exceptions. During the early reign of Alexander II, the time of the Provisional Government and Khrushchev’s “Thaw,” repression was relaxed to a certain extent.
I'm just not really sure if it includes all the right things. I mean, I know I'm covering the entire period and comparing, but it doesn't get me As.
I think you need more on the "organs" (NKVD, Cheka etc), comparing how they were similar, what they did etc and probably a good part of your essay should be on Stalin's purges as they are the "feature" of the 100 years of repression. Otherwise it seems a pretty good summary.
Thanks for the advice. I've tried to follow it and add a few things, without going overboard and making it too long. I realise that not everything I've mentioned will be relevant to every essay that repression fits into, so I guess the length should be ok. Anyway, this is the latest. Any more like what I should be aiming for?
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule.
Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka and NKVD of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. The NKVD were, during the 30’s, used to instigate Stalin’s purges as many charged with dissent against the party disappeared from Gulags or work camps never to be seen again.
It could be considered that Khrushchev brought some exception as after Stalin’s death, Beria (Stalin’s security chief) was arrested on conspiracy charges and executed, and the secret police was downgraded to the KGB. However, many historians consider Beria’s death to be a key part of Khrushchev’s struggle for power (1953-56); self-beneficial rather than a reform of the secret police, and of course, a harsh secret police organisation still existed.
It could also be considered that the Provisional Government were an exception, as they disbanded the Tsarist secret police. However, it must be remembered that time under the Provisional Government was not free from repression. Wishing to remove the threat of opposition they removed prominent communists with arrest or exile.
Censorship was also a feature throughout; especially during the time of Alexander III’s Reaction and during the Cold War in Stalin’s era when it was important not to let news from the West filter in.
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule.
Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka and NKVD of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. The NKVD were, during the 30’s, used to instigate Stalin’s purges as many charged with dissent against the party disappeared from Gulags or work camps never to be seen again.
It could be considered that Khrushchev brought some exception as after Stalin’s death, Beria (Stalin’s security chief) was arrested on conspiracy charges and executed, and the secret police was downgraded to the KGB. However, many historians consider Beria’s death to be a key part of Khrushchev’s struggle for power (1953-56); self-beneficial rather than a reform of the secret police, and of course, a harsh secret police organisation still existed.
It could also be considered that the Provisional Government were an exception, as they disbanded the Tsarist secret police. However, it must be remembered that time under the Provisional Government was not free from repression. Wishing to remove the threat of opposition they removed prominent communists with arrest or exile.
Censorship was also a feature throughout; especially during the time of Alexander III’s Reaction and during the Cold War in Stalin’s era when it was important not to let news from the West filter in.
I'm going from my teachers notes who told me to put censorship in the same paragraph. To be honest, I don't know much else about it... any notes you have that'd add to what I have? 
As for length, I'm getting a little worried. In one mock paper I did I managed a B+ but it was only about two and a half pages long. That's why the length bothers me, I'm not sure if I'd be taking up too much of the 45 minutes writing on one topic, when I really need to be writing about at least four or five.
As for length, I'm getting a little worried. In one mock paper I did I managed a B+ but it was only about two and a half pages long. That's why the length bothers me, I'm not sure if I'd be taking up too much of the 45 minutes writing on one topic, when I really need to be writing about at least four or five.
Although Alex II made a number of reforms, he was undoubtedly committed to an autocratic style of government. However, Alexander III was much more in favour of censorship partly spurred on by the fact that his father had been assassinated by a revolutionary group and he deemed it necessary to bring back censorship. Under Nicholas censorship remained, although it was relaxed for a brief period after the 1905 revolution due to the concessions that the Tsarists were forced to make in the October Manifesto. However, the most extreme form of censorship was apparent during Stalin's rule. Anyone who dared to step out of line - the party line - would either flee Russia for his life, or "disappear", usually into the gulags of Siberia.
Whaddaya think?
Length: About 3 sides is what is expected in 45 minutes.
Whaddaya think?
Length: About 3 sides is what is expected in 45 minutes.
I've decided to start posting the notes I'm making on here. I thought it might help other people to revise, and it'll help me if other people input ideas. Thanks.
Here's my (extended) repression section thus far:
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule.
Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka and NKVD of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. The NKVD were, during the 30’s, used to instigate Stalin’s purges as many charged with dissent against the party disappeared from Gulags or work camps never to be seen again.
It could be considered that Khrushchev brought some exception as after Stalin’s death, Beria (Stalin’s security chief) was arrested on conspiracy charges and executed, and the secret police was downgraded to the KGB. However, many historians consider Beria’s death to be a key part of Khrushchev’s struggle for power (1953-56); self-beneficial rather than a reform of the secret police, and of course, a harsh secret police organisation still existed.
It could also be suggested that the Provisional Government were an exception, as they disbanded the Tsarist secret police. However, it must be remembered that time under the Provisional Government was not free from repression. Wishing to remove the threat of opposition they removed prominent communists with arrest or exile.
Censorship
Censorship was also a feature throughout. In Tsarist times, Alexander III’s Reaction saw censorship of the press tightened whilst Russification brought about a suppression of cultures different to that traditional to Russia. In Communist times during the Cold War, it was important that information from the West be kept out of Russia, and as such, censorship was once again at a high.
It could be considered that, again, Stalin’s purges were the time of most censorship, as many whose ideas were different from the party’s were killed or disappeared. Similarly, those coming back from war were often sent to Siberian gulags in order to stop them spreading Western ideas.
The beginning of Alexander II’s reign could be considered an exception as his reforms initially brought a relaxation in censorship. However, the Tsar was undoubtedly committed to an autocratic style of rule and 1866 saw a backlash with leading radical journals closed down.
Russification
Prejudice and discrimination against minority groups was a theme throughout the period. However, there were two periods of extreme severity, one in the Imperial era and one during Communist times. Pushed by Pobedonostev and Plehve, Russification became Government policy during the time of Alexander III. Minority languages and culture were repressed, and violence was used against some groups, such as the Pogroms against Jews. Similarly, during Stalin’s time, Russification was a major issue, especially following the Great Patriotic War. The 1917 October Revolution offers one exception, when Lenin promised freedoms to minorities to bring them onside. However, following victory in the Civil War this wasn’t agreed to, though the Ukraine was granted independence in 1918.
Restriction of Movement
Throughout the period, the people had little choice as to where they lived and worked. Under serfdom, the nobles dictated where the serfs lived or worked, whilst under the War Communism of communist times and during Stalin’s era, internal passports were used and some urban workers were directed to new areas to benefit industry (Magnitogorsk, 1929). During Nazi occupation in the Great Patriotic War, Scorched Earth Policy saw people forced to move deeper into Russia. There were some exceptions, most notably opportunities for peasants to farm in Siberia which were offered by both Stolypin, and Khrushchev under the Virgin Land Scheme, however, this was not taken up with massive enthusiasm.
Here's my (extended) repression section thus far:
Repression
Repression was a theme throughout the period. The Reaction, initiated by Alexander III, was a time of much repression, as was the Red Scare under Lenin. Repression was at its height during Stalin’s purges. Using the view that, “a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic,” he purged the party, the people, and the army to strengthen his rule.
Similarly, the secret police were active throughout. From the Third Section, and Okhrana of Imperial Russia to the Cheka and NKVD of Communist times, the secret police were used as tools of repression; identifying and breaking up opposition using their extensive powers such as arbitrary arrest. The NKVD were, during the 30’s, used to instigate Stalin’s purges as many charged with dissent against the party disappeared from Gulags or work camps never to be seen again.
It could be considered that Khrushchev brought some exception as after Stalin’s death, Beria (Stalin’s security chief) was arrested on conspiracy charges and executed, and the secret police was downgraded to the KGB. However, many historians consider Beria’s death to be a key part of Khrushchev’s struggle for power (1953-56); self-beneficial rather than a reform of the secret police, and of course, a harsh secret police organisation still existed.
It could also be suggested that the Provisional Government were an exception, as they disbanded the Tsarist secret police. However, it must be remembered that time under the Provisional Government was not free from repression. Wishing to remove the threat of opposition they removed prominent communists with arrest or exile.
Censorship
Censorship was also a feature throughout. In Tsarist times, Alexander III’s Reaction saw censorship of the press tightened whilst Russification brought about a suppression of cultures different to that traditional to Russia. In Communist times during the Cold War, it was important that information from the West be kept out of Russia, and as such, censorship was once again at a high.
It could be considered that, again, Stalin’s purges were the time of most censorship, as many whose ideas were different from the party’s were killed or disappeared. Similarly, those coming back from war were often sent to Siberian gulags in order to stop them spreading Western ideas.
The beginning of Alexander II’s reign could be considered an exception as his reforms initially brought a relaxation in censorship. However, the Tsar was undoubtedly committed to an autocratic style of rule and 1866 saw a backlash with leading radical journals closed down.
Russification
Prejudice and discrimination against minority groups was a theme throughout the period. However, there were two periods of extreme severity, one in the Imperial era and one during Communist times. Pushed by Pobedonostev and Plehve, Russification became Government policy during the time of Alexander III. Minority languages and culture were repressed, and violence was used against some groups, such as the Pogroms against Jews. Similarly, during Stalin’s time, Russification was a major issue, especially following the Great Patriotic War. The 1917 October Revolution offers one exception, when Lenin promised freedoms to minorities to bring them onside. However, following victory in the Civil War this wasn’t agreed to, though the Ukraine was granted independence in 1918.
Restriction of Movement
Throughout the period, the people had little choice as to where they lived and worked. Under serfdom, the nobles dictated where the serfs lived or worked, whilst under the War Communism of communist times and during Stalin’s era, internal passports were used and some urban workers were directed to new areas to benefit industry (Magnitogorsk, 1929). During Nazi occupation in the Great Patriotic War, Scorched Earth Policy saw people forced to move deeper into Russia. There were some exceptions, most notably opportunities for peasants to farm in Siberia which were offered by both Stolypin, and Khrushchev under the Virgin Land Scheme, however, this was not taken up with massive enthusiasm.
tonight i wrote an essay on this theme, it has come up every year...i've got every pass paper. It helps to set out the themes...economy,repression,autocratic rule, argriculture, industry, war and make a time line throughout the hundred years...main turning points and that will help with essay. Try not to do things chronologically...tsar then communists....it is hard not to do that with the peasant question, but gonna avoid that for the other themes...
i've hand written my essay, otherwise i would have posted it on here!
i've hand written my essay, otherwise i would have posted it on here!
When I did it earlier this year (I took the exam in Jan) we were told that all of the qusetions they ask can are in one of six themes. The themes were Opposition, Comparison of Leaders, Governements and the Regimes/Repression, Peasants, Industrialistion and Causes of Change.
Questions tend to be either turning point questions, where you have to compare the theme before and after that turning point (similarities and differences), or causes of change questions where you look at whether one factor had a greater impact on a theme than another factor. The hardest type of question is the 'over the entire period/from 1855-1956' type question because you get tricked into writing it chronologically - DON'T! This is a theme paper and you should approach the question thematically. For example if the question is 'What impact did industrialisation have on the lives of people in Russia', write a paragraph on The Impact on Russia as a Great Power, one on The Impact on the Stability of the DIctatorship, one on Impact on the Peasantry, another on the Impact on the Working Class. Within these paragraphs you can write chronologically if you want but if you structure your essay in this way, it is more thematic.
I have a list of previous questions and practice questions within each of the six themes and some possible essay structures if anybody is interested.
It's a really good module - I'd never done Russia before. So good luck everyone doing it this June!
Questions tend to be either turning point questions, where you have to compare the theme before and after that turning point (similarities and differences), or causes of change questions where you look at whether one factor had a greater impact on a theme than another factor. The hardest type of question is the 'over the entire period/from 1855-1956' type question because you get tricked into writing it chronologically - DON'T! This is a theme paper and you should approach the question thematically. For example if the question is 'What impact did industrialisation have on the lives of people in Russia', write a paragraph on The Impact on Russia as a Great Power, one on The Impact on the Stability of the DIctatorship, one on Impact on the Peasantry, another on the Impact on the Working Class. Within these paragraphs you can write chronologically if you want but if you structure your essay in this way, it is more thematic.
I have a list of previous questions and practice questions within each of the six themes and some possible essay structures if anybody is interested.
It's a really good module - I'd never done Russia before. So good luck everyone doing it this June!
I have a booklet of past papers, but I'm not sure if everything's included. If you could PM me the ones you have it'd be much appreciated. Out of interest, what kind of mark did you get?
I got 101/120 and an A is 96/120. I'll PM you the questions I've got later this evening or tomorrow - I've got a busy couple of days at the mo!
Just Curious, but what other modules are history A level students sitting/studying? I did the Russia module in Jan, this June I've got Anglo-German Relations 1918-1939 (Interpretations Module) and I had to do coursework which I handed in in March. I chose the question: How far was Hitler personally repsonsible for the outbreak of WWII?
Just Curious, but what other modules are history A level students sitting/studying? I did the Russia module in Jan, this June I've got Anglo-German Relations 1918-1939 (Interpretations Module) and I had to do coursework which I handed in in March. I chose the question: How far was Hitler personally repsonsible for the outbreak of WWII?
The green thing is a rep gem. Go to user CP (right at the top of the page, underneath where it says 'Student Room') and it'll tell you what reps you've had.
I need to average one mark into an A on all of my papers to get an A overall, so I'm going for 97 on this. Hopefully, I can do even better, but that could prove to be false hope. If you check out the pinned history students thread you can see what other people are taking, but so you don't have to look far, my independant study was on Mary, Queen of Scots and my other module is on Roosevelt's America.
I need to average one mark into an A on all of my papers to get an A overall, so I'm going for 97 on this. Hopefully, I can do even better, but that could prove to be false hope. If you check out the pinned history students thread you can see what other people are taking, but so you don't have to look far, my independant study was on Mary, Queen of Scots and my other module is on Roosevelt's America.
The Essay Question
The essay questions are often long and wordy so I have cut them down to the bear minimum here! This might be useful to do in the exam because the question will become less daunting. I have also split them up into the 6 key themes of the module. Sometimes the themes might overlap, such as repression and opposition or peasants and industrialisation so be aware of this.
A useful starting point for revision would be to go through the questions and assess whether they are:
comparison questions: Turning points around a specific date - 1917 seems to be the most obvious and frequent one! (e.g. dictatorship qu1). Or comparison between one ruler and another (e.g. leaders qu.1). Or comparison between the two regimes. (e.g. peasants qu1).
development questions: where you need to look at the development of a theme over the whole period. It has no specific comparison or turning point. (e.g. Opposition qu.2).
causes of change questions: these are probably the least frequently asked questions but you need to be aware of them because just the wording of them can put you off if your not expecting them! You could easily treat them as comparison – that is to argue that one factor is more responsible for change in Russia than other factors. Or you could look at how all causes of change developed over the period and then conclude which were most important.
Essay Structure
Once you have identified the type of question you can look at how you are going to structure it. Comparison questions can be planned in a table in the following way:
In the first column put: Criteria/Reason/Factor / Issue . In this column you need to list 5 factors you are going to examine – this forms the rows of the table.
The second and third rows are for the comparison eg.
Tsars vs. Communists
Stalin vs. Other leaders
Before turning point vs. after turning point
The last column is for a mini-conclusion, which will be the last sentence of each paragraph.
Development essay plans are simpler:
In the first column put: Criteria/Reason/Factor / Issue . In this column you need to list 5 factors you are going to examine – this forms the rows of the table.
The second column is where you will put examples of development.
The third column is the mini-conclusion.
You want about 5 strong criteria to examine in each essay.
Choosing Criteria
The hard bit is choosing the criteria/reasons but you’ll find that once you’ve done a couple of plans for a theme the factors will start repeating within that particular theme. You’ll probably end up planning about 7 or 8 different points for each theme and then when you have an essay you simply choose which of these paragraphs will suit the essay the best and adapt the facts and the style accordingly.
I bet you’re a little confused so I’ll give you an example. When I did my revision on Opposition, I had 7 criteria. They were as follows:
- Who they were
- Why there was opposition and what their aims were (these are v. closely linked)
- The methods they used
- The weakness/problems of the opposition
- The success of opposition
- Repression
- Support for the regimes (remember that not everybody hated the regimes!)
For all of the opposition questions I encountered I could use some combination of these prepared paragraphs.
e.g. Why was opposition generally unsuccessful?
Because of who they were – e.g. peasants were weak in literacy under Tsars so can’t do much constructively and their was so much opposition in the early 1900s from different backgrounds that it was confusing and hard to work together well. Authors and artists were exiled under the communists so they got little chance to show their opposition and make it successful.
Because of their methods – Sabotage and wrecking under the communists showed opposition but did not achieve much. Opposition under the Tsars was random attacks/assassinations – there were no clear objectives so it was ineffective.
Repression – it was so successful on stopping opposition under both regimes: give a few examples over the whole period.
Support for regimes – after the October revolution some people were satisfied and happy with the regimes so they stopped opposing. Under communists some people volunteered to work in the 5 year plans and there was mass mourning when Stalin died.
Here I have just picked on some of the paragraphs for the essay but other paragraphs may be more useful in other essays.
Exam and Practice Questions
So here are the majority of the questions I have in my Russia folder. I’ve not put them all down because some are just too similar that an essay plan for one would do just as well for another but just with a different conclusion! Remember you don’t have to plan all of these essays, just come up with prepared paragraphs for each theme (often they even overlap too!) and make sure you’ve done enough to pick and chose appropriate paragraphs to adapt for each question.
Dictatorship/Government/Regime/Repression
1. How far do you agree that Oct 1917 marked a turning point in the nature but not the fact of dictatorship in Russia?
2. How consistent was the use of terror and repression by the rulers of Russia throughout the period?
3. Compare the degree of oppression suffered by the people of Russia under the Tsar and Bolshevik Regimes.
4. Why did the governments of Russia tend to provoke opposition and extent?
5. ‘Russia did little more than exchange Romanov Tsars for Red Tsars from 1917’ How far do you agree with this?
6. Why did the rulers of Russia so often resort to repression in the period?
7. ‘Repression was their most effective tool of government’ How far do you agree?
8. Lenin described tsarist Russia as a ‘prison of the peoples’. How far could this be said for the whole period 1855-1956?
9. Were the communists more repressive and authoritarian than the tsars?
Opposition
1. Why were opponents of the tsars more successful than opponents of the communists?
2. How effective was the opposition to governments in Russia throughout the period?
3. How far did the nature and effectiveness of opposition to the governments change in the period?
4. Why was opposition generally unsuccessful?
Peasants
1. Did the Russian peasantry receive better treatment under the Tsars or Communists?
2. How far did the living and working conditions of the Russian peasantry remain uniformly poor throughout the period?
3. Did the Russian governments regard the peasantry as an obstacle rather than a help to the development of the state?
4. Did the condition of the peasantry improve over the period?
Leaders
1. Was Stalin the most successful ruler of Russia in the period 1855 to 1956?
2. How far do you agree that the credit for industrialising Russia in the period 1855 to 1956 can only be given to Stalin?
Industrialisation
1. How far do you agree that the impact of industrialisation on Russia and its people differed only in terms of extent in the period 1855-1956?
2. How far did the working class suffer more from Bolshevik rule than Tsarist rule throughout the period?
3. How different socially and economically was tsarist Russia from communist Russia?
Causes of Change
1. Trotsky described war as the ‘locomotive of history’. Can it be argued that change in Russia was only caused by war?
2. ‘Military needs were always the main reason for Russia’s economic development’ How far do you agree?
3. How consistent were the reasons for social/economic/political (they could ask any one of these) change throughout the period?
4. How important was awareness of economic backwardness as a cause of change in Russia?
The essay questions are often long and wordy so I have cut them down to the bear minimum here! This might be useful to do in the exam because the question will become less daunting. I have also split them up into the 6 key themes of the module. Sometimes the themes might overlap, such as repression and opposition or peasants and industrialisation so be aware of this.
A useful starting point for revision would be to go through the questions and assess whether they are:
comparison questions: Turning points around a specific date - 1917 seems to be the most obvious and frequent one! (e.g. dictatorship qu1). Or comparison between one ruler and another (e.g. leaders qu.1). Or comparison between the two regimes. (e.g. peasants qu1).
development questions: where you need to look at the development of a theme over the whole period. It has no specific comparison or turning point. (e.g. Opposition qu.2).
causes of change questions: these are probably the least frequently asked questions but you need to be aware of them because just the wording of them can put you off if your not expecting them! You could easily treat them as comparison – that is to argue that one factor is more responsible for change in Russia than other factors. Or you could look at how all causes of change developed over the period and then conclude which were most important.
Essay Structure
Once you have identified the type of question you can look at how you are going to structure it. Comparison questions can be planned in a table in the following way:
In the first column put: Criteria/Reason/Factor / Issue . In this column you need to list 5 factors you are going to examine – this forms the rows of the table.
The second and third rows are for the comparison eg.
Tsars vs. Communists
Stalin vs. Other leaders
Before turning point vs. after turning point
The last column is for a mini-conclusion, which will be the last sentence of each paragraph.
Development essay plans are simpler:
In the first column put: Criteria/Reason/Factor / Issue . In this column you need to list 5 factors you are going to examine – this forms the rows of the table.
The second column is where you will put examples of development.
The third column is the mini-conclusion.
You want about 5 strong criteria to examine in each essay.
Choosing Criteria
The hard bit is choosing the criteria/reasons but you’ll find that once you’ve done a couple of plans for a theme the factors will start repeating within that particular theme. You’ll probably end up planning about 7 or 8 different points for each theme and then when you have an essay you simply choose which of these paragraphs will suit the essay the best and adapt the facts and the style accordingly.
I bet you’re a little confused so I’ll give you an example. When I did my revision on Opposition, I had 7 criteria. They were as follows:
- Who they were
- Why there was opposition and what their aims were (these are v. closely linked)
- The methods they used
- The weakness/problems of the opposition
- The success of opposition
- Repression
- Support for the regimes (remember that not everybody hated the regimes!)
For all of the opposition questions I encountered I could use some combination of these prepared paragraphs.
e.g. Why was opposition generally unsuccessful?
Because of who they were – e.g. peasants were weak in literacy under Tsars so can’t do much constructively and their was so much opposition in the early 1900s from different backgrounds that it was confusing and hard to work together well. Authors and artists were exiled under the communists so they got little chance to show their opposition and make it successful.
Because of their methods – Sabotage and wrecking under the communists showed opposition but did not achieve much. Opposition under the Tsars was random attacks/assassinations – there were no clear objectives so it was ineffective.
Repression – it was so successful on stopping opposition under both regimes: give a few examples over the whole period.
Support for regimes – after the October revolution some people were satisfied and happy with the regimes so they stopped opposing. Under communists some people volunteered to work in the 5 year plans and there was mass mourning when Stalin died.
Here I have just picked on some of the paragraphs for the essay but other paragraphs may be more useful in other essays.
Exam and Practice Questions
So here are the majority of the questions I have in my Russia folder. I’ve not put them all down because some are just too similar that an essay plan for one would do just as well for another but just with a different conclusion! Remember you don’t have to plan all of these essays, just come up with prepared paragraphs for each theme (often they even overlap too!) and make sure you’ve done enough to pick and chose appropriate paragraphs to adapt for each question.
Dictatorship/Government/Regime/Repression
1. How far do you agree that Oct 1917 marked a turning point in the nature but not the fact of dictatorship in Russia?
2. How consistent was the use of terror and repression by the rulers of Russia throughout the period?
3. Compare the degree of oppression suffered by the people of Russia under the Tsar and Bolshevik Regimes.
4. Why did the governments of Russia tend to provoke opposition and extent?
5. ‘Russia did little more than exchange Romanov Tsars for Red Tsars from 1917’ How far do you agree with this?
6. Why did the rulers of Russia so often resort to repression in the period?
7. ‘Repression was their most effective tool of government’ How far do you agree?
8. Lenin described tsarist Russia as a ‘prison of the peoples’. How far could this be said for the whole period 1855-1956?
9. Were the communists more repressive and authoritarian than the tsars?
Opposition
1. Why were opponents of the tsars more successful than opponents of the communists?
2. How effective was the opposition to governments in Russia throughout the period?
3. How far did the nature and effectiveness of opposition to the governments change in the period?
4. Why was opposition generally unsuccessful?
Peasants
1. Did the Russian peasantry receive better treatment under the Tsars or Communists?
2. How far did the living and working conditions of the Russian peasantry remain uniformly poor throughout the period?
3. Did the Russian governments regard the peasantry as an obstacle rather than a help to the development of the state?
4. Did the condition of the peasantry improve over the period?
Leaders
1. Was Stalin the most successful ruler of Russia in the period 1855 to 1956?
2. How far do you agree that the credit for industrialising Russia in the period 1855 to 1956 can only be given to Stalin?
Industrialisation
1. How far do you agree that the impact of industrialisation on Russia and its people differed only in terms of extent in the period 1855-1956?
2. How far did the working class suffer more from Bolshevik rule than Tsarist rule throughout the period?
3. How different socially and economically was tsarist Russia from communist Russia?
Causes of Change
1. Trotsky described war as the ‘locomotive of history’. Can it be argued that change in Russia was only caused by war?
2. ‘Military needs were always the main reason for Russia’s economic development’ How far do you agree?
3. How consistent were the reasons for social/economic/political (they could ask any one of these) change throughout the period?
4. How important was awareness of economic backwardness as a cause of change in Russia?
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